Versuchsträger VT1 Self-Propelled Gun

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In 1972 a development contract was placed with MaK for a high-mobility experimental vehicle. It was to have twin main armaments mounted in fixed positions on the chassis in place of a turret. A prototype was produced in 1973 making use of a shortened Kampfpanzer 70 chassis. It was known as the Versuchsträger VT1-1 (Experimental Carrier VT1-1) and mounted twin 105mm guns fed from an autoloader. The guns were aimed by turning the whole vehicle in a similar manner to the Swedish S-tank.Trials and development continued into 1975 when a further vehicle was produced, the VT1-2. This mounted twin 120mm guns in a modified hull and again underwent trials. Development was discontinued in 1976, in favour of the Leopard 2, and the vehicle never went into production. Unconfirmed reports as this book went to press indicate that other prototypes, of the VT1 and later VT2 and VT3 vehicles, may be in storage in Germany at Meppen, Trier or Bad Oeynhausen (sources: R. Fleming, W. Schneider).

Gefechtsfeldversuchträger GVT

For further testing of the mobility and the concept of a tank with two main guns, five Gefechtsfeldversuchträger (GVT, “battlefield test-beds”) were designed and built in 1975 and 1976. The GVTs were not fitted with guns, instead they mounted two gun simulators. For combat simulations they used Talissi laser fire simulators. The propellant gases were created with a 20 mm cannon mounted on the roof.